HC Deb 25 January 1989 vol 145 cc579-80W
Ms. Abbott

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce identifiable channels of complaint or grievance procedures for prisoners who feel that they have suffered racial discrimination; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Any prisoner who thinks that he or she may have suffered racial discrimination can raise the matter through the usual grievance procedures. In addition, provided that the complaint is raised internally at the same time, the prisoner may write to the Commission for Racial Equality, which will decide what action to take.

Ms. Abbott

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that every regional race relations co-ordinators' group includes a representative from the Prison Officers Association.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The regional race relations co-ordinators' group provides a forum for the discussion of race relations issues and, drawing on these discussions and on information from governors and prison service headquarters, advises the prisons board on the service's implementation of the race relations policy. Its membership includes the four regional race relations co-ordinators, representatives from headquarters and one of the community relations consultants. It is not the general practice to invite representatives of staff associations to participate in meetings that are essentially concerned with management matters.

Ms. Abbott

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will take steps to ensure that boards of visitors have oversight over race relations matters; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will take steps to ensure that boards of visitors routinely receive results of all racial monitoring and liaise on a regular basis with the race relations committee on their establishment.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The principal duty of a board of visitors is to satisfy itself as to the state of the prison premises, the administration of the prison, and the treatment of prisoners. Boards report annually on how they have carried out this duty. Guidance to boards on the content of their report includes the need to report on race relations matters. We would expect them to ensure that they have access to the necessary information for this purpose. We are considering, however, whether more detailed advice would be helpful.

Ms. Abbott

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that the monitoring of members of ethnic minorities in prison and various work parties and training courses is sensitive to the length of time inmates stay in a particular workplace and the allocation of high-status jobs.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Guidance issued to governors requires them to ensure that all inmates have equal access to training courses and to jobs and to be particularly vigilant in monitoring access to the more attractive jobs. No specific guidance has been given in regard to monitoring the length of time inmates stay in particular jobs.

Ms. Abbott

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that data collection on race in prison department establishments is standardised to enable comparisons to be drawn across establishments and across regions.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Establishments have already been given guidance on the standard classifications to be used when recording the ethnic origin of prisoners. This took effect from I June 1984.

Ms. Abbott

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the report entitled "Race Relations in Prison" by Elaine Genders and Elaine Player; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We understand that the Oxford University Press will be publishing the report on 2 February.

Ms. Abbott

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that staff who are chosen to undertake specific duties in prison such as classification and transfer are given particular guidance on the exercise of their discretion in matters involving race relations.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Guidance issued to prison staff stresses that all duties can be discharged properly only if staff treat prisoners with humanity and respect, impartially and without discrimination on the grounds of colour, race or religion.